YORK City Knights will have a new captain on Sunday as head coach James Ford shuffles his pack for the visit of minnows West Wales Raiders.

Club skipper Tim Spears takes a breather this weekend having played all nine games so far for the Knights this season, including another big effort in last week's memorable Challenge Cup clash with Super League side Catalans Dragons.

Wrecking ball Adam Robinson, the team's vice-captain, instead takes the armband for the return to Betfred League One action, with namesake Connor Robinson filling in whenever the prop goes onto the interchange bench.

Ford appears set to retain the same back line that took on the Frenchmen but makes changes elsewhere, taking the opportunity to rest veterans Ben Cockayne, Andy Ellis and Sam Scott, as well as Spears, after their recent exertions.

The 19-man squad still looks a strong one with St Helens hooker Aaron Smith included again after extending his loan, and player/assistant-coach Graeme Horne pencilled in the 19 after missing the Catalans tie with injury. Will Jubb (ankle) also faces a late fitness test.

A notable inclusion is local lad Liam Jackson, who broke his nose playing on dual-reg for Heworth ARLC last week but comes in at stand-off for Cockayne, with Hull KR's Matty Marsh again not available on DR.

Head coach Ford said of the Robinsons: "Adam has stood in for Tim (Spears) before when Tim's been off the field, and Connor is maturing into a really good player and leader.

"It (giving them the armband) is an acknowledgement of their contribution, development and efforts.

"We've got a number of really good leaders - like Graeme Horne, Ben Cockayne obviously and Joe Batchelor."

On Spears, he said: "Tim is having a rest. He's been superb for us both in his performances and in how he leads the team.

"He's played every game thus far in the middle unit and 80 minutes in some of them.

"We need to make sure we have Tim fit and firing for the rest of the season. If we give him a rest, like with Andy Ellis, hopefully that will reinvigorate him and improve our chances of having him playing week in week out."

Joe Porter is set to start in Spears' stead at loose-forward - marking his improved deal at Bootham Crescent - while Mike Kelly replaces Scott in the second row.

Young prop Rory Dixon and veteran winger Tommy Saxton are also in the 19, while Jake Normington is another to be rotated out.

On recalling Jackson, meanwhile, Ford said: "I'll be delighted to give him another opportunity. He's been playing well for Heworth and it will be great for him to get a run."

Asked if the broken nose would trouble the playmaker, Ford said: "What's that got to do with anything? It's rugby league. It's good for him."

West Wales, who have shipped 288 points in their four league games to date, have recently recruited six players to bolster their struggling ranks.

They are winger Liam Smith, who has been playing rugby union for Swansea, fellow RU player Craig Kelly, Army trio Robert Bonehill, Mike Ward and former Hull Dockers amateur Danny Hunter, and Wales youth international Luke Williams.

Knights (probable): Moss, Robson, Hey, Butler-Fleming, Mazive, Jackson, C Robinson, Hawksworth, Smith, A Robinson, Batchelor, Kelly, Porter. Subs from: Jubb, Siddons, Ronan Dixon, Horne, Saxton, Rory Dixon.